Paint container

ABSTRACT

A container for holding paintable liquid, the container comprising: a base; a continuous wall extending up from the base and forming a top opening; a gripping means formed in the wall and being sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a user to grip the gripping means to hold the container; a dipping section adjacent to the gripping means, the dipping section being sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a brush to be inserted into the dipping section through the top opening to contact the liquid; and an inclined tongue portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the wall adjacent to the dipping section, the tongue portion being sized, shaped and positioned to permit the brush to be dabbed thereon to remove excess liquid from the brush, and to permit the excess liquid to drain into the dipping section.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of containers, and moreparticularly to containers that hold paintable liquids for use inpainting, construction, and related activities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Buildings and physical structures such as fences and bridgesgenerally require painting when newly constructed, as well as periodicrepainting, to maintain a fresh, clean, and attractive appearance. Twotypes of painting instruments are commonly used, rollers and brushes.Paint rollers are generally appropriate for painting large open surfaceareas such as walls and doors, while paint brushes are typically usedfor smaller and finer areas such as window frames, trim, fences,baseboards, deck edges, and wall and ceiling intersections.

[0003] When painting it is necessary to have a container to hold thepaint being applied. In particular, when using a brush a painterwilltypically hold the brush with one hand and the container with the otherhand. In many paint projects the painter will move about extensively,including climbing scaffolding and ladders, to brush paint in thevarious places where detail work is required. Painter mobility forextended periods is particularly the case in large or professional paintjobs. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a paint container that iscomfortable to hold, particularly for long periods, and that is not tooheavy.

[0004] For each brush application the paint brush is usually firstdipped in the paint so that it is completely immersed. When removed thebrush is usually soaked and dripping with excess paint. The paintingdoes not usually proceed with the brush in this condition since there isa risk that too much paint will be applied to the surface being painted.Also, when moving the brush to the paint surface there is a chance thatrandom drops of excess paint will drip onto the floor, making a mess.Accordingly, the brush is usually wiped or dabbed to reduce the excess,and to produce a desired paint profile on the brush that is suitable forthe particular surface being painted.

[0005] Brush wiping generally involves scraping or moving a broad sideof the brush against an edge, and is an effective means of removing mostof the paint from the portion of the brush being wiped. The movementusually begins at or near the top of the brush, where the bristles jointhe brush handle, and proceeds down the bristles towards theirunattached or free end. The movement is stopped at whatever point it isdesired to leave paint on the brush. It is desirable if the edge usedfor wiping is at least as wide as the brush being wiped, since thatreduces the likelihood that repeated wiping strokes will be needed.

[0006] A typical profile produced by wiping is a line of paint along thebottom edge or free end of the brush. Further variations are possible inthat the paint may be left only along a portion of the bottom edge, oreven just a corner, rather than along the whole edge. The brush wipingprofile is useful for fine work where care must be taken to avoidgetting paint on a surface adjacent to the surface being painted. Thismay include, for example, painting the part of a window frame adjacentto the glass windowpane.

[0007] Brush dabbing involves laying all or a portion of a broad side ofthe soaked brush against a dabbing surface so that the excess drips offor is removed by adhesion. The brush may be “tapped” lightly toaccelerate the process. The dabbing movement is continued until thedesired amount of paint is left on the side of the brush being dabbed.For efficiency purposes, to reduce the need for overlapping and extradabbing strokes, it is desirable for the dabbing surface to be at leastas wide as the brush being dabbed. The resulting paint profile on thebrush is a relatively uniform coat having a desired thickness, withoutany dripping excess. Dabbed brushes are well suited for painting broadareas that are not finely detailed and that are too narrow to be servedby rollers, such as baseboards, for example.

[0008] The above described container and brush application features arehelpful in improving painting efficiency. However, many of the devicesand containers in current use or that have been proposed lack orinadequately address these desired features.

[0009] For example, the containers in which paint is commonly soldpresent a number of problems. Large paint cans that hold one gallon(about 3.79 litres) are too large and heavy, at about 7½ inches high, 6½inches in diameter, and 10-12 lbs. in weight, to be conveniently carriedfor any length of time. Further, the only available surface for wipingand dabbing is the narrow and curved rim of the can, which is far fromoptimal.

[0010] Further problems are also caused by the wire handle that isusually provided for these cans. The handle extends in a semicircle overthe top of the can, and can therefore obstruct the opening and interferewith easy insertion of the paint brush into the can. To avoid this, thepainter will sometimes shift weight to displace the handle, which cancause wrist strain. The painter may put less paint in the can, to reducethe weight and therefore the wrist strain. However, this approach forcesthe painter to reach deeper into the can, which both slows the processand often results in paint from the rim getting on the painter's arm.The wire handle itself can dig into the painter's hand, which isobviously uncomfortable.

[0011] Some paint containers have become available which replace thewire handle with an alternative type of semicircular handle. However, inthis design the container is held from the bottom, and the painter isrequired to put down the brush and use both hands to put down or pick upthe container. This is not only inconvenient, but can result in a lossof balance when working on a ladder.

[0012] The smaller size retail paint cans are generally more manageable,being about 5 inches in height, 4¾ inches in diameter, and weighingabout 4 lbs. Unlike the larger cans it is possible to hold the smallcans directly in one hand without a handle. However, the diameter of thecans is still large enough to be uncomfortable for many people to hold.Further, even stronger or larger people who are initially comfortablemay experience some hand strain after holding a can of this diameter forextended periods. In addition, the cylindrical shape of the can providesa poor gripping surface and is susceptible to slipping, particularlywhen wet. Dropping such a can could not only create a mess but alsopresent a risk of injury.

[0013] Another aspect of the small cans is that the open top is onlyabout 3¼ inches in diameter. The small cans therefore could not be usedwith paint brushes that are four inches in width, and would be awkwardand inconvenient when used with the popular three inch brush size. Inaddition, the only surface available for wiping and dabbing is the rim,which is not only narrow like the rim of the large cans, but has an evenmore pronounced curvature due to its smaller diameter.

[0014] As a result of the above problems with retail paint cans, it iscommon for painters to make their own ad hoc paint containers out ofeveryday items such as, for example, old margarine containers or cut-offplastic juice bottles. These containers however continue to suffer frommany of the same problems such as being uncomfortable to hold, havinginadequate wiping and dabbing surfaces, and low paint capacity in somecases.

[0015] Some attempts have been made in the past to provide a convenientpaint container. For example, U.S. Design Pat. No. 401,704 to Clarkdiscloses a paint dispenser with a brush wipe and rest, and an indentedhandle. However, the brush wipe is a bar across the top opening, whichpartly obstructs the opening and compels the painter to take care not tohit the bar when inserting the brush. The brush wipe also cannotfunction as a dabbing surface. In addition, the handle appears difficultto grip comfortably because it is positioned at the bottom of thecontainer, and because it forces part of the user's thumb to pressagainst an unindented portion.

[0016] Another example is Shea, U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,816, which disclosesa painter's aid to hold paint, a paint brush rest, and a stepped wipingsurface. One problem with Shea is that the gripping surface is a smooth,relatively large diameter cylinder similar to the retail paint cansdescribed above. Therefore, the device will likely be uncomfortable tohold and prone to slippage. Another problem is that the brushed wipingsurface is substantially within the body of the container. Attempts towipe the brush may therefore result in the brush picking up more paintif the bristle tips make contact with the paint. There is also nodabbing surface provided. As shown in FIG. 15, the platform 22 is usedas a brush rest. Dabbing on the platform 22 would cause it to be coveredin paint, which is contrary to its use as a brush rest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] What is desired is a paint container which overcomes one or moreof the problems associated with such prior art containers.

[0018] Preferably, the paint container will be comfortable to hold forextended periods. In particular, it would be preferable for the paintcontainer to have a recessed grip sized and shaped to be comfortablygripped by a user. The container should preferably be sized so that whenfull of paint it will not be too heavy, or produce an uncomfortablelevel of rotational torque. The container will preferably provide aconvenient wiping edge and dabbing surface. This may preferably beachieved by a tongue that is wider than most brushes in common use, suchas three and four inch wide brushes. The paint container will preferablyalso allow for efficient brush dipping, such as by preferably having anunobstructed top opening, an inclination to tilt forward, and sufficientspace to move the brush from dipping to wiping or dabbing withoutneeding to re-orient the brush. It would also be preferable for thepaint container to be low cost, re-usable and recyclable, and stackableto lower selling costs.

[0019] Accordingly, there is provided a container for holding paintableliquid, the container comprising:

[0020] a base;

[0021] a continuous wall extending up from the base and forming a topopening;

[0022] a gripping means formed in the wall and being sized, shaped, andpositioned to permit a user to grip said gripping means to hold saidcontainer;

[0023] a dipping section adjacent to said gripping means, said dippingsection being sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a brush to beinserted into said dipping section through said top opening to contactsaid liquid; and

[0024] an inclined tongue portion extending upwardly and outwardly fromthe wall adjacent to said dipping section, the tongue portion beingsized, shaped and positioned to permit the brush to be dabbed thereon toremove excess liquid from said brush, and to permit said excess liquidto drain into said dipping section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to preferredembodiments of the invention as illustrated in the attached figures.

[0026]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the paint container of the presentinvention;

[0027]FIG. 2 is a see through view of FIG. 1;

[0028]FIG. 3 is a top view of the paint container of FIG. 1;

[0029]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of three paint containers of FIG. 1arranged in a stack;

[0030]FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 1 showing a user's hand grippingthe gripping means and a paint brush inserted in the dipping section;

[0031]FIG. 6a is the same view as FIG. 1 showing a paint brush beingwiped on the leading edge of the tongue portion;

[0032]FIG. 6b is a view of the paint brush of FIG. 6a after it has beenwiped;

[0033]FIG. 7a is the same view as FIG. 1 showing a paint brush beingdabbed on the tongue portion; and

[0034]FIG. 7b is a view of the paint brush of FIG. 7a after it has beendabbed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] The paint container of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1,and is generally indicated with reference numeral 10. For additionalclarity, a “transparent” version of the drawing of FIG. 1 is shown inFIG. 2. It can be seen that the paint container 10 comprises a base 12and a continuous wall 14 extending up from the base and forming a topopening 16. It can be appreciated that this structure defines aninterior space or contained volume 18 inside the container 10 betweenthe base 12, wall 14, and top opening 16.

[0036] The paint container 10 further broadly comprises a gripping means20, a dipping section 22, and a tongue portion 24. For convenientreference, the container may be considered to have a first end or back26 and a second end or front 28. It can be seen that the gripping means20 begins at the back 26 and extends into the container. The dippingsection 22 is adjacent to the gripping means 20 and extends from the farend of the gripping means 20 to the second end or front 28. The tongueportion 24 extends outwardly and upwardly from the front or second end28 of the wall 14, adjacent to the dipping section 22.

[0037] The paint container 10 of the present invention is configured tohold a paintable liquid or paint 30, and to enable the paint to bedispensed onto a paint brush 32 for application on a surface by apainter. As discussed in greater detail below, the container 10 alsoincludes features that enable the user to hold the container in onehand, and to adjust the amount and distribution of paint on the brush.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention the wall 14 isperpendicular to the base, and accordingly extends up to the top opening16 in a substantially vertical orientation. However, it is preferredthat the wall 14 taper outwardly as the wall extends up from the base.In this way the width, length, and cross-sectional dimensions of the topopening 16 at the top of the container 10 will be larger than thecorresponding dimensions of the base 12 at the bottom of container 10.The present invention comprehends any degree of outward taper, butadequate results may be achieved with an outward taper that isrelatively small. For example, an outward taper of 0.04 inches for avertical rise of 1 inch has been found to be adequate.

[0039] Extending the wall 14 with an outward taper is preferred becausethe outward taper enhances the ability of the container 10 to bestackable. More particularly, the wall 14 and other features such as thegripping means 20 are preferably sized, shaped, and positioned to permitat least one of the containers 10 to be stacked inside another of thecontainers 10.

[0040] The stackable feature of the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 4, which shows a group of three containers 10 arranged inside oneanother in a single stack. It can be appreciated that the stackarrangement greatly reduces the total space occupied by the constituentcontainers, in comparison to the space that the containers wouldotherwise occupy if they were separated and laid out side by side.Stackability of the container 10 is accordingly a desired featurebecause it reduces the space required to transport and store multiplecontainers, and also reduces the shelf space needed to display thecontainers in a retail environment.

[0041] The gripping means 20 is preferably formed in the wall 14, and isgenerally sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a user to grip thegripping means, to hold the container 10.

[0042] The preferred embodiment of the gripping means 20 is at least onerecess 34 in the wall 14. For additional clarity, FIG. 2 shows dottedlines 36 to indicate the path that wall 14 would have taken if not forthe recess 34. It can be seen that wall 14 first breaks its path byfollowing a tapered section 38. In the embodiment shown recess 34 joinstapered section 38 at a termination gripping point 40, and then extendstowards the back 26 of the container to gripping back edge 42 a.

[0043] In FIG. 2,corresponding gripping back edge 42 b on the other sideof the container is shown, as well as corresponding gripping forwardedges 43 b and 43 b which are situated at the bottom of terminationgripping point 40. It is preferred for the distance between 43 b and 43b to be slightly less than the distance between 42 a and 42 b. In thisway the gripping means converges slightly along its length, whichgenerally provides a more secure and comfortable grip.

[0044] It can be appreciated that other embodiments of the recess 34 andtapered section 38 are possible. For example, the transition between thesections may be more gradual, so that the termination gripping point 40is less distinct and the recess 34 and tapered section 38 may be lessdistinguishable as separate elements. However, regardless of theparticular embodiment, it can be appreciated that the recess 34represents a break or narrowing in the wall 14 of the container 10 sothat a smaller and more comfortable gripping surface is available to theuser. A smaller gripping surface will be more likely to reduce thechance of the user experiencing hand strain when gripping the container10, and will generally be more comfortable.

[0045] It is also preferable that the recess 34 include a terminationgripping point 40 to provide a convenient point at which the user'sthumb and fingers can receive support and rest against. The restingfeature is a result of the user's digits naturally pressing or restingagainst the surface of adjacent tapered section 38.

[0046] While the present invention contemplates a gripping meanscomprising a single recess 34, more than one recess is also possible. Anembodiment having two recesses 34 is preferred because a user's handwill grip the gripping means in two places. In particular, where thegripping means comprises first and second recesses 34 in the wall 14,the first recess will preferably be spaced sufficiently apart from thesecond recess so as to permit the container 10 to be gripped by theplacement of a thumb of the user's hand in the first recess and at leastone finger of the user's hand in the second recess. FIG. 5 shows thisembodiment with a user's hand illustrated, the user's thumb gripping onerecess 34 and the other fingers gripping the other recess. Also as shownin the drawing, it is preferable for the user's palm to fit snuglyagainst and have substantial contact with the back 26 of the container10.

[0047] The gripping means 20 will preferably also include ridges 44 tofacilitate gripping of the gripping means 20 by the user. The ridges 44may be grooves embedded in the surface of the recess 34, but other formsof ridges, or other grip enhancement features, are also contemplated.For example, pieces of material having grip enhancement properties maybe glued or otherwise attached to a smooth surface such as recess 34 toprovide similar benefits. The ridges 44 may also be formed on thetapered section 38, since the user's digits will preferably also restagainst that surface.

[0048] In the figures recess 34 is shown extending up from the base 12to a termination point 46, where wall 14 expands outwardly and upwardlyto form an upper tapered section 48. This configuration is preferredbecause, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper tapered section 48 provides acomfortable resting or support surface for the user's digits in anupward direction similar to the support and rest provided by taperedsection 38 in a forward direction. This preferred embodiment mayalternatively be characterized as the wall 14 having a wall height, withat least one recess 34 extending upwards from the base 12 for a distanceless than the wall height. It can be appreciated however that otherembodiments are also comprehended, such as for example, extending recess34 all the way up from base 12 to top opening 16.

[0049] It is also preferred that recess 34 extend up from base 12,regardless of the eventual height of recess 34. This is because thecontainer 10 will not generally be stackable if there is any outwarddivergence at the bottom of the container. Accordingly, it is lesspreferred for there to be an outward tapered section at the bottom ofthe container, with the recess 34 commencing some distance above thebase 12. Of course, if the stackable feature were not important in aparticular application then such an embodiment might be more acceptableor preferred.

[0050] The dipping section 22 is preferably sized, shaped, andpositioned to permit a brush to be inserted into the dipping section 22through the top opening 16, to contact the paint 30 contained inside.

[0051] The dipping section therefore comprises a portion of the interiorspace or contained volume 18 of the container 10. In particular, thedipping section 22 may be viewed as the portion of the contained volumethat is not within the gripping means 20. The relative position of thedipping section 22 may be seen in the top view of the container 10 shownin FIG. 3. In this figure it can be clearly seen that the dippingsection 22 extends between termination gripping point 40 and the front28 of the container.

[0052] The dipping section 22 may be viewed as including the taperedsection 38 which is adjacent to the gripping means 20, followed by alonger section having a uniform width “w” adjacent to the front 28 ofthe container. In FIG. 3, the dipping section is shown having theuniform width “w” between an intersection point 50, where the taperedsection 38 meets the wall 13, and the front 28 of the container 10.

[0053] If desired, the dipping section may alternatively be consideredas comprising the uniform width section only, with the tapered section38 comprising an intermediate section between the gripping means and thedipping section. With reference to FIG. 3, it is preferable that thedistance from 40 to 50 be relatively short compared to the distancebetween 50 and 28.

[0054] The function of the dipping section 22 is to provide a suitableinterior space for a brush to be dipped. The present inventioncomprehends that a brush may be inserted from anywhere along the topopening 16 into the contained volume 18, including that portioncontained within the gripping means 20. However, it is expected that theuser will prefer to dip the brush in the dipping means 22 because it iswider than the gripping means, and accordingly easier to dip into, andalso because it is closer to the tongue portion 24.

[0055] It is also appreciated that brushes are available in many sizes,from tiny artist brushes to, most commonly, the three and four inchbrushes used for painting building interiors and the like. To enhancethe general flexibility and usefulness of the container 10, and inparticular with respect to use in building and large scale paintingapplications, it is comprehended that the container 10 be preferablyconfigured to preferably accomodate at least three inch brushes, andpreferably four inch brushes as well. As will be discussed in moredetail below, this entails making the tongue portion 24 have a width ofat least three or four inches.

[0056] It is preferred that the dipping section 22 have a dippingsection width and the tongue portion have a tongue portion width, andthat the dipping section width be substantially equal to the tongueportion width. The “dipping section width” is not meant to include thetapered section 38, regardless of whether the tapered section 38 isformally viewed as part of the dipping section. In FIG. 3 it can be seenthat the dipping section and the tongue portion have the same width “w”.It is also comprehended that the dipping section width will besubstantially equal to the tongue portion width if its average width,not including any tapered section 38, is within the range of 85% to 115%of the tongue portion width. Therefore, rather than the dipping sectionhave a completely uniform width, it may be designed to diverge orconverge slightly, as long as the average width, not including a taperedsection 38, is within the above specified range. However, it is mostpreferred for the dipping section width to be equal to the tongueportion width, as shown in the drawings.

[0057] It is preferred for the width of the two sections to be close orpreferably equal because such a configuration enhances dippingefficiency. Specifically, it enables a user to dip the brush into thedipping section, and then move the brush directly onto the tongueportion without having to re-orient the brush. This saves time andreduces or eliminates the need for the painter's wrist to turn or twist,as would be needed if the brush had to be re-oriented. It can beappreciated that painting is a very repetitive task, and thatre-orientation of a brush, when repeated hundreds if not thousands oftimes, can lead to muscle strain and soreness, and even debilitatinginjury in some cases. Accordingly, it is preferred that the dippingsection have the same width, or be within a close range, of the width ofthe tongue portion.

[0058] As can be seen in the figures, the tongue portion 24 is inclined,and extends upwardly and outwardly from the wall 14 adjacent to thedipping section 22. The tongue portion is also preferably sized, shaped,and positioned to permit a brush to be dabbed thereon to remove excesspaint from the brush, and also to permit the excess paint to drain intothe dipping section.

[0059] The tongue is inclined so that paint on the tongue's surface willbe able to move by force of gravity back into the container. Thisfeature of the invention is desirable because it helps keep the tonguerelatively clean, so that it can be re-used effectively for dabbingpurposes. The angle at which the tongue extends upwardly can vary aslong as it is sufficient to permit paint to drain into the dippingsection. However, the angle should also not be too high because thatcould make the tongue awkward to work with, particularly for dabbingbrushes. It has been found that an inclination angle of approximately 45degrees from the horizontal allows for both draining of excess paint andgood workability, and accordingly this angle is preferred.

[0060] It can be seen from the figures that the preferred embodiment ofthe tongue portion is a rectangle. There is a leading edge 52, a bottomedge 54 where the tongue 24 joins wall 14 and dipping section 22, andsides 56. It can be appreciated that other embodiments are alsopossible, as long as the tongue functions to provide a surface fordabbing, and edge for wiping, and is inclined to permit paint to draininto the dipping section.

[0061] The leading edge 52 is preferably sized and shaped to provide adistinct edge or point suitable for wiping a paint brush. If the brushis positioned so that the side of the brush to be wiped is pressedagainst the leading edge 52, and with the brush handle down and thebristles pointed up, as the brush is moved in a downward directionexcess paint will be wiped off and be transferred to the surface of thetongue, from where it can drain into the dipping section. The user canincrease the amount of paint drained by increasing pressure on the brushas it is being wiped.

[0062] The tongue portion 24 is also preferably sized and shaped to havea surface suitable for dabbing. In order to accommodate brushes of threeor four inches in width, the tongue portion should be suitably wider,preferably about 3½ inches or 4½ inches respectively. The tongue portionshould also have a length that is sufficiently long relative to thelength of the brush being dabbed so that the full length of the brushcan be dabbed without needing too many dabbing strokes. Preferably thethe tongue portion or dabbing surface length is at least 50% of thelength of the brush to be dabbed. It can be appreciated that the tongueportion of the present invention can be made the full length of thebrush to be dabbed, if desired.

[0063] It can be seen from the figures that the sides 56 of the tongueare bounded by attached vertical portions or edge barriers 58. The edgebarriers are useful in that they prevent excess paint on the tongueportion, particularly paint that is near the edge of the sides 56, fromspilling off the side. In the preferred embodiment shown, the edgebarriers 58 comprise an extension of the wall 14. It can be appreciatedthat other embodiments of the edge barriers may also be used, as long asthey function to block spilling of paint off the sides 56. It can alsobe appreciated that the tongue portion could be made without edgebarriers. However, this configuration would not be preferred, since itcould result in paint spilling off of the sides.

[0064] The preferred embodiment of the paint container 10 of the presentinvention may now be described in greater detail. As a starting point,it is worth noting that small size retail paint containers generallycontain about 900 ml of paint, and that this amount of paint weighsapproximately in the range of 4 lbs. The amount of paint in 900 ml, ormore broadly 800-1000 ml, is sufficiently large for most applications sothat the container should last for a reasonable amount of time beforereplenishment is required. The 4 lb. weight will be familiar to mostpeople since it is the common retail size. It can be appreciated thatpeople who find 4 lbs. too heavy can simply avoid filling the containerto capacity, and instead use as much paint as they can comfortably hold.Similarly, it can be appreciated that the container of the presentinvention can be made in other embodiments that are scaled up or down insize, to hold more or less paint and be accordingly heavier or lighter,as desired.

[0065] It is also preferable for the paint container to be flexibleenough to accommodate a wide variety of paint jobs, and accordingly toaccommodate paint brushes having widths of at least 3 inches, andpreferably 4 inches. It has been found that designing the container tohave a tongue portion width of 4.5 inches is adequate to service a 4inch paint brush. It can be appreciated again that the present inventioncan be designed with larger or smaller tongue portions, as appropriatefor individual situations.

[0066] It has been found that a paint container having the followingadditional dimensions provides adequate results. The container of thepreferred embodiment has a height, from the base 12 to the top opening16, of about 6.25 inches. The base length “m”, as shown in FIG. 3, is4.25 inches, and the base width at the front 28 is also 4.25 inches. Atthe top of the container, the length from the back 26 to front 28 is 4.5inches. The width of the dipping section and tongue portion “w” is, asnoted above, 4.5 inches. It can be appreciated therefore that in thepreferred embodiment there is an outward taper of 0.25 inches from thebase 12 to the top of the container. This represents an outwardincrement of 0.04 inches for every 1 inch in vertical height.

[0067] The length of the tongue portion from bottom edge 54 to leadingedge 52 is 1.5 inches, and the tongue is inclined upwards at 45 degreesfrom the horizontal. This results in a total length along the top of thecontainer from the back 26 of the container to the leading edge 52 ofabout 5.54 inches.

[0068] With reference to FIG. 3, the length “x” of the recess 34 fromthe back 26 to the termination gripping point 40 is 2.125 inches, whichit may be noted is 50% of the length “m” of the base, which is 4.25inches.

[0069] The width of the gripping means along the back 26, between 42 ato 42 b, is about 3.125 inches. This narrows down by about ⅛ or{fraction (3/16)} of an inch to the far end, between 43 b and 43 b, toapproximately 3 inches or 2⅞ inches.

[0070] An aspect of the preferred embodiment is that since the grippingmeans is narrower than the dipping section, the center of gravity(“CoG”) of the container 10 will frequently be located in the dippingsection. This may cause a rotational torque about the gripping meanswhich will have the effect of tilting the container 10 forward. As willbe discussed below, this forward tilt can be beneficial to the user ofthe paint container 10. However, the forward tilt should not be toolarge or it could be uncomfortable to the user.

[0071]FIG. 3 shows a dotted line 60 drawn through the center of thecontainer 10. The user's hands will grip the container at about thetermination gripping point 40. This is represented as a dotted line 62,with a center point 64. The CoG is shown in the dipping section, at adistance “d” from point 64. In the circumstances shown, a rotationaltorque or moment will be produced about the gripping means equal to theweight of the container and its contents multiplied by the distance “d”.The effect of the torque will be to tilt the container forward, in thesense that the tongue portion 24 will be urged downward, and the base 12at back 26 will be urged upward. This torque factor is represented bycurved arrow 66 in FIG. 5.

[0072] It has been found that in general, designing the container 10 sothat the length “x” of the gripping means is preferably at least 40%,more preferably at least 45%, and most preferably at least 50% of thelength “m” of the base 12 will provide a reasonably low torque valuethat will be comfortable to most users. It can be appreciated that ifthe container is made larger, for example, to hold more paint, thetorque will increase because the weight of a full container through theCoG will increase. This would suggest extending the length of thegripping means towards or past 50% would be desirable. Conversely, for asmaller container a shorter grip means may be adequate.

[0073] More broadly, where the container has a center of gravitypositioned between the gripping means and the tongue portion, so that atorque is created about the gripping means when the container is held bya user at the gripping means, the container is preferably sized andshaped to limit the torque to no more than one foot-pound, morepreferably 0.8 foot-pounds, and most preferably 0.6 foot-pounds, whenthe container is full of paintable liquid.

[0074] It can now also be appreciated that if the recessed grip means ismade narrower or wider it will change the distribution of volume of thecontainer, which will have an effect on the resulting torque. Inparticular, if the recessed grip means between 42 a and 42 b, andbetween 43 b and 43 b, is made narrower, the CoG will move farther away,towards the front 28, which will increase “d”. On the other hand, theoverall capacity of the container may decline because the volume of thegripping means is smaller, so that the weight at the CoG may be somewhatless. Therefore, according to the present invention, the distribution ofvolume within the container is optimized to a predetermined agreeablelevel of torque, which may in turn help to determine the appropriatewidth of the recessed grip means.

[0075] Similarly, if the container is scaled larger the weight at theCoG will increase, which will increase the torque. It may then bepreferable to reduce the length of the dipping section while increasingthe height of the container, so that the torque will remain within thepreferred range and not be too high so as to be uncomfortable to a user.It is preferable for the container of the present invention to remainwithin the preferred torque range regardless of the size or volumecapacity of the particular embodiment of the container.

[0076] The paint container 10 of the present invention is preferablymade from plastic due to that material's light weight, low cost,compatibility with paintable liquids, and ease of manufacturing. It canbe appreciated that other materials, such as stainless steel, aluminiumand other metals, may also be used if they have some or all of thefunctional benefits of plastic. In some cases a higher cost materialmight be preferred if it offers certain benefits, such as being moredurable or easier to clean than plastic, for example. The preferredplastic embodiment can be made using standard plastic manufacturingtechniques such as injection moulding. This has the benefit of being lowcost and producing containers of good quality.

[0077] The operation of the present invention can now be described. Theuser will begin by selecting a paintable liquid appropriate for theproject. While painting a building using latex or oil based paint ismost common, other paintable liquids such as varnish or stain, such asmight be used with furniture or wooden fences, may also be used with thepresent invention.

[0078] The user will pour a designated amount of paint into the paintcontainer. The user can choose to pour to the maximum capacity of thecontainer, or a lesser amount if less is needed or if the weight of afull container is too high. Full capacity preferably means up to a levelslightly below the bottom edge 54 of the tongue, for example about ¼inch or ⅜ inch, and not to the very top of the container 10. This levelis preferred because paint higher than bottom edge 54 will overlap thetongue portion and interfere with the use of the tongue for dabbing.Further, paint at the bottom edge 54 will overlap the tongue portionwhen the container is tilted forward. Also, it is preferable for thereto be an unfilled but walled space above the maximum paint level so thatthere will always be some protection against paint spilling out of thecontainer inadvertently as the user moves about. Such a space isavailable in the present invention due to wall 14 extending as high asleading edge 52.

[0079] When the container is filled with the desired amount of paint,the user can pick it up in one hand, as shown in FIG. 5, and should findthat it can be held comfortably. This is because the weight should notbe excessively heavy, the grip means will be recessed so that it can beheld without the user's hand having to stretch excessively, and ridgeswill provide additional grip security. As well, any forward torqueshould not be excessive, being preferably no more than 1 foot-lb andmore preferably less than that. As a result, the user should be able tocomfortably move about the paint site for extended periods while holdingthe paint container 10 in one hand.

[0080] When the user begins painting, the first step will be to dip thebrush in the paint container. This procedure may be efficiently andeasily done due to the design of the present invention. The paintcontainer has an unobstructed top, unlike some of the prior art, so theuser does not have to be slowed down to check for an obstruction witheach dip of the brush. The container is sized to have a reasonablecapacity so that an adequate amount of painting can be done with eachfull container. There may be a slight forward tilt due to the torqueoperating on the grip means. This may be beneficial in that it is easierto insert a brush into an opening that is tilted forward rather than onethat is rigidly vertical. In addition, the tilted position may make thecontents of the container easier to view by the user. The dipping isalso rendered more efficient by the fact that the brush does not have tobe re-oriented when it is removed from the container.

[0081] After the brush is dipped, excess paint may be removed and apreferred paint profile achieved by wiping or dabbing the paint brush.As shown in FIG. 6a, the brush bristles may be wiped or scraped againstthe leading edge 52 of the tongue. The excess paint goes onto the tongueand is free to drain into the dipping section. A sample profile of awiped brush is shown in FIG. 6b, which shows a brush with a thin line ofpaint 30 along the bottom edge of the bristles.

[0082] If the user needs to dab the brush, the side of the brush may bedabbed against the dabbing surface of the tongue 24, as shown in FIG.7a. It can also be appreciated that the dabbing motion can begin in thesame motion by which the dipped brush is removed from the dippingsection. For example, the brush can be dragged past the tongue as it isbeing removed so that all of the side of the brush will be dabbed. Asample profile of a dabbed brush is shown in FIG. 7b, which shows painton almost the full height of the bristles. The thickness of the paintwill be determined by the user according to the degree of dabbingapplied.

[0083] It can be appreciated that through a combination of wiping anddabbing of the paint brush, an experienced painter can optimize the useof paint, save time in brush preparation, and more effectively paint thesurfaces requiring application by brush.

[0084] When the user has completed the paint brushing job, the paintcontainer may be washed and re-used at a later time. Alternatively,since it is preferably made of plastic, it may be discarded andrecycled. Due to the expected low cost of the container, it should berelatively convenient to purchase additional containers for other paintjobs or for use with different colours of paint.

[0085] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theforegoing description was in respect of preferred embodiments and thatvarious alterations and modifications are possible within the broadscope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For example, the container may be made from a translucentmaterial, which will enable the user to easily see through the containerthe level of available paint. Various other modifications will beapparent to those skilled in the art but are not described in anyfurther detail herein.

I claim:
 1. A container for holding paintable liquid, the containercomprising: a base; a continuous wall extending up from the base andforming a top opening; a gripping means formed in the wall and beingsized, shaped, and positioned to permit a user to grip said grippingmeans to hold said container; a dipping section adjacent to saidgripping means, said dipping section being sized, shaped, and positionedto permit a brush to be inserted into said dipping section through saidtop opening to contact said liquid; and an inclined tongue portionextending upwardly and outwardly from the wall adjacent to said dippingsection, the tongue portion being sized, shaped and positioned to permitthe brush to be dabbed thereon to remove excess liquid from said brush,and to permit said excess liquid to drain into said dipping section. 2.The container of claim 1, wherein said container has a center of gravitypositioned between the gripping means and the tongue portion, wherein atorque is created about the gripping means when said container is heldby said user at said gripping means, said container being sized andshaped to limit said torque to no more than one foot-pound when saidcontainer is full of paintable liquid.
 3. The container of claim 2,wherein said torque is no more than 0.8 foot-pounds.
 4. The container ofclaim 2, wherein said torque is no more than 0.6 foot-pounds.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein said base has a length and said grippingmeans extends at least 50% of said length.
 6. The container of claim 1,wherein said base has a length and said gripping means extends at least45% of said length.
 7. The container of claim 1, wherein said base has alength and said gripping means extends at least 40% of said length. 8.The container of claim 1, wherein said gripping means comprises at leastone recess in said wall.
 9. The container of claim 8, wherein saidgripping means comprises first and second recesses in said wall, andwherein said first recess is spaced sufficiently apart from said secondrecess so as to permit said container to be gripped by the placement ofa thumb of said user's hand in said first recess and at least one fingerof said hand in said second recess.
 10. The container of claim 8,wherein said wall has a wall height and said at least one recess extendsupwards from the base of the container for a distance less than saidwall height.
 11. The container of claim 1, wherein said gripping meansincludes ridges to facilitate gripping of said gripping means by saiduser.
 12. The container of claim 1, wherein said dipping section has adipping section width and said tongue portion has a tongue portionwidth, and said dipping section width is substantially equal to saidtongue portion width.
 13. The container of claim 12, wherein saiddipping section width is in the range of 85-115% of said tongue portionwidth.
 14. The container of claim 1, wherein said dipping sectionincludes a tapered section adjacent to said gripping means.
 15. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein said tongue portion includes a leadingedge at a free end of said tongue portion, said leading edge being sizedand shaped to provide a wiping surface for said brush.
 16. The containerof claim 1, wherein said tongue portion is sized and shaped to allow abrush having a width of three inches to be dabbed thereon with theentire width of said brush contacting the tongue portion.
 17. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein said tongue portion extends upwardly at anangle approximately 45 degrees from the horizontal.
 18. The container ofclaim 1, wherein said tongue portion includes side edge barriers forpreventing excess liquid on said tongue portion from spilling out of aside edge of said tongue portion.
 19. The container of claim 18, whereinsaid edge barriers comprise an extension of said wall extending fromsaid base.
 20. The container of claim 1, wherein said wall tapersoutwardly as said wall extends up from said base, said wall and saidgripping means being sized, shaped and positioned to permit at least oneof said containers to be stacked inside another of said containers. 21.The container of claim 20, wherein said gripping means comprises atleast one recess extending upward from said base of said container.